Make a Bang with Hublot's Big Bang

Large, heavy, valuable: The Big Bang, Hublot’s biggest star, is an impressive timepiece. The watch from this Swiss manufacturer is available in gold alloy, titanium, or carbon fiber and features intricate movements.

Highlights

Hublot's top model

Special materials used like Magic Gold (gold/ceramic mix)

Distinctive porthole design

In-house caliber HUB6016 with a tourbillon

A number of different colors and materials (denim, embroidery)

Opposites Unite

The Big Bang plays a central role for Hublot as its flagship collection. It's most certainly the most well-known watch from this Nyon-based manufacturer. The Big Bang is a true eye-catcher and head-turner: As most models feature 45-mm cases, they're hard to miss. Lovers of complicated movements, as well as of exclusive materials such as Magic Gold, King Gold, or carbon, will certainly get their money's worth.

The Big Bang has been creating a stir since its introduction in 2005. The watch immediately won many awards, such as the design prize from the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix and the prize for sports watches at Watch of the Year 2005 in Japan. Within the span of a year, Big Bang sales tripled. Since then, Hublot developers have continued to refine the collection's look through the use of innovative materials such as Magic Gold as well as continually introduced new calibers.

One reason for this watch's success is its ability to combine contrasting elements. The watch's outer design is quite spectacular. The beloved Unico model's imposing look is emphasized by its 45-mm case and wide bezel, which has 90-degree angle edges and is held in place by six visible screws.

Hublot was the first company to manufacture watches with natural rubber straps, which are also available for the Big Bang. The combination of these bands and the watches' cases, most of which are made of gold or high-tech materials, results in an intriguing mix of materials. The delicate calibers within likewise offer a contrast to the large cases of the Big Bang models. Many calibers are intricately designed and richly decorated with jewels. Some watches feature sapphire glass case backs and no dials, allowing observation of the moving work of art from both sides.

However, the Big Bang is a watch of many faces. The Pop Art and Tutti Frutti models feature bright, popping hues, while the Big Bang Jeans offers a rather casual look. Versions with cases smaller than the standard 45-mm size are also available for men or women looking for a watch to fit a slimmer wrist.

How Much Do Watches in the Big Bang Collection Cost?

Are you looking for a Swiss luxury watch that is a bit off the beaten path? The Big Bang is one of the most notable younger model series. It's been creating a stir in the watch scene with its unique style since 2005.

Prices start between 5,000 and 7,000 euros. You can purchase a 38 or 41-mm Big Bang in very good to mint condition with a quartz or automatic movement for this amount.

The somewhat larger 44-mm versions start around 8,000 euros new. For this amount, you can purchase a stainless steel watch with a chronograph caliber. It costs around 11,000 euros with a ceramic case.

One of the bestselling versions, the 45-mm Big Bang Unico, starts at 13,000 euros new with a titanium case. Do you want a watch with some more unique qualities? A Unico with a red gold case and a perpetual calendar costs around 50,000 euros. Diamonds on a red gold case or a caliber with a tourbillon can raise the price to around 100,000 euros.

You should be prepared to spend around 10,000 euros for a new Pop Art or Tutti Frutti watch, two of the more colorful Big Bang variants. Red gold models cost over 30,000 euros.

The 38-mm stainless steel women's models cost around 7,000 euros and usually feature quartz movements and diamonds. A red gold case increases the price to about 16,000 euros.

Select Big Bang Models

Price (new)

Big Bang 38 mm

7,000 euros

Big Bang 44 mm

8,000 euros

Big Bang Broderie

8,000 euros

Big Bang Pop Art

10,000 euros

Big Bang Unico

13,000 euros

Big Bang Unico with Magic Gold

The Unico offers the largest selection of typical Big Bang models, with a chronograph available in around 20 different versions. It has all the ingredients necessary to be the Swiss manufacturer's biggest hit: a large case made of exclusive materials, elaborately decorated calibers made in-house, and consistent design.

Materials such as Magic Gold and King Gold definitely contribute to the watch's appeal. Magic Gold is a patented yellow gold/ceramic alloy used by Hublot to create extremely scratch-resistant cases.

King Gold, on the other hand, has an intense red luster from its combination of red gold, platinum, and copper. The alloy doesn't oxidize, even after many years. Other case material options are titanium and carbon, both suitable materials for such a large watch due to their light weight and sturdiness. Ceramic is not only used in the Magic Gold alloy, but it also appears in its pure form in cases, bands, and bezels. Hublot covers some Unico models in diamonds: Some feature more than 400 gemstones sprinkled over the case, dial, and bezel.

Alarm, GMT, Tourbillon, and 5-Day Power Reserve

The basic version of the Unico chronograph caliber HUB1242 is made of 330 pieces put together by hand. The stopwatch function can be upgraded to a flyback chronograph thanks to its modular design. A GMT function is also available in combination with an alarm in the Big Bang Alarm Repeater, powered by the manual-winding caliber HUB5003. The automatic caliber HUB1270 keeps the Big Bang Perpetual Calendar running, which features not only a perpetual calendar, but also a chronograph. Hublot reached the pinnacle of watchmaking with their HUB6016 caliber featuring a tourbillon. The round filigree frame turns the balance wheel 360 degrees once every minute, thereby negating the effect of gravity on the oscillation system and resulting in a more accurate watch. Tourbillons are considered one of the most difficult complications to produce and are therefore reserved for especially high-quality watches. The HUB6016's power reserve of around 115 hours is also very impressive, and a subdial at the nine o'clock position serves as the power reserve indicator. The HUB6016 vibrates at 21,600 alternations per hour. Hublot uses a rubber base for the watch's band and overlays it with alligator leather. This two-layer band is more durable than many others, seeing as very little sweat can permeate the leather on hotter days.

The Big Bang Ferrari has enriched the selection since 2012. The product of a collaboration with the Italian sports car company, it has a sporty design with red or yellow numbers and matching seams on the band. Carbon and ceramic are the dominant materials used, and the watch is powered by the Unico chronograph caliber.

Extravagance in the Big Bang Series

The colorful Big Bang Broderie, Pop Art, and Tutti Frutti were designed with women in mind, featuring smaller case diameters of 41 mm.

Bright Embroidery

The dial, bezel, and band of the Broderie are elaborately embroidered. The Pop Art series mainly features pink, orange, turquoise, and deep green hues - and not in different models, but together in one watch. The two-tone Tutti Frutti pops a little less. Many models have matching straps and dials in orange, pink, or blue. Others have a white or black dial combined with a colorful strap.

Casual Stonewashed Denim

Hublot uses blue denim for the band and dial of the Big Bang Jeans. The manufacturer truly rises to the challenge of combining contrasting elements in the version of the Big Bang Jeans set with diamonds.

Pitch Black

Diamonds are also a hallmark of the Big Bang 38 MM, the smallest watch in the collection with a diameter of just 38 mm. Lovers of the classic pure black look will be enthralled with the All Black, available in sizes ranging from 38 to 45 mm. The watch truly lives up to its name with a black case, dial, and band. Only the numbers, indexes, and hands are lighter to make the face more visible.

A Newcomer to the Scene

Hublot has been around since 1980 and produces their watches in Nyon, a city near Geneva, Switzerland. The founder is the Italian watch designer Carlo Crocco, who began his career in 1967 and became a freelancer in the 1970s. He developed the first wristwatch with a natural rubber strap for Hublot. In 2004, Jean-Claude Biver left Omega and became the CEO of Hublot. One year later, Hublot was the recipient of countless awards from the watchmaking industry for their then-new series, the Big Bang. In 2008, the luxury goods concern LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE bought the company. TAG Heuer also belongs to LVMH.